Cell Phone Tips for Parents of Tweens

Now that school is back in session, parents may be thinking that allowing their tween to have a cell phone of their own could be very helpful, solving miscommunications and simplifying schedules. The age that kids are getting their first cell phone is trending much earlier in recent years, according to the National Consumers League (NCL). In fact, many pre-teens are entering the cell phone market before high school. C&R Research reports that 46 percent of children age 9 to 11 and 65 percent of 12- to 14-year-olds own a cell phone

In today’s digital world, a young person’s first cell phone is as monumental and significant a purchase as a 16-year-old’s first car. This piece of technology signifies a certain level of independence and trust, but there are many different options for just how much freedom a pre-teen should be allowed. So how do you choose the best phone and plan for your child?

The NCL has released a new consumer guide to help parents navigate the complexities of a first cell phone purchase for their tween. “Figuring out how to manage a child’s use of one of these high-tech gadgets can often require the skills of a seasoned diplomat, the steely nerve of a tightrope walker, and the tech savvy of a Silicon Valley computer geek,” said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the NCL.

Some tips to keep in mind:

• Texting adds up. Texting is one of the biggest costs that should be accounted for; consider a larger bucket of texts, or unlimited texts, to avoid costly pay-as-you-go rates. On the other hand, if you’re worried about your tween texting inappropriately or dangerously, limit their allotment of text messages – recent research has shown that fewer texts to spare means less inappropriate texting behavior.
• Shop smart. Hit your chosen cell phone provider’s store and take your pre-teen along so they can test out the phones, but consider making your purchase online to take advantage of online-only deals.
• Budget wisely. Let your tween know that there is a monthly cell phone budget in your house and they cannot go over it. If they continually abuse the privilege, consider deducting from their allowance until they realize that the non-green-lighted expenses that you have to cover will affect them directly.

And, of course, make a point to have a talk with your teen about acceptable cell phone usage and who they can and cannot call or text. View the NCL’s guide for more tips about how to choose between contract-based and prepaid services, manage data and texting costs, plan for your shopping experience, narrow down cell phone choices, set expectations with a tween before a phone is purchased, and set rules for and manage your pre-teen’s phone use.